MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul Stats Captaincy: T20, ODI, TEST and IPL Records

MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul: Cricket has many dimensions, and several players have been recognized as the most distinguished talents in several fields. Not only with the bat or ball, but many players have also been widely known for their ability on the field. Apart from these playing roles, there has been another crucial role in the field, and that is that of a captain. 

Though it is the batters and bowlers who win matches for a team, it is the players with the captain’s band who often are the torchbearers for their players, equally efficient in planning a game strategy and building an equation with all players to manage and regulate them on the field. 

Even several greats of the game have not dared to captain their national sides, as the immense pressure and responsibility affect their game time, and losing matches also affects their morale when players are given the role of a captain. 

It is due to these reasons that even the greatest players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shane Warne, and many others have let go of captaincy opportunities. 

However, today we are all set to compare one of the most legendary captains the world of cricket has ever witnessed, MS, with the recent most cool guy in the Indian squad, KL Rahul, who has been seen in the role of a captain on a few occasions. 

MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul: TEST 

Though not many Indian captains have had many great records in the longer format of the game, it was Dhoni who tried and maintained the honor and high standards set by ex-Indian skipper Ganguly in the longest format of the game. 

Dhoni had captained India in 23 tests, out of which 12 were in home conditions and 11 were overseas. His record at home amazes all, as he has won nine series at home, with only one series loss against England in 2012. However, in overseas conditions, Dhoni could clinch only three victories and faced six losses. 

On the other hand, Rahul has led India only on three occasions in the Tests, out of which he clinched two victories and one loss.  

MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul: ODI

When it comes to one-day cricket, no one else but the great Ricky Ponting can match Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s caliber as a captain. If seen through stats, Virat Kohli might seem to be a successful Indian captain, but it was Dhoni who rebuilt the pillars of India’s successful run in limited-overs cricket, which were laid by another veteran, Sourav Ganguly, in the early 2000s. 

Dhoni has captained India in 200 ODI matches and went on to win 110 of them. With 5 matches tied and 11 ending without any result, Dhoni lost 74 matches and therefore had a win percentage of 55%. Dhoni led India in the ODI World Cups of 2011 and 2015, in which India won the CWC after 28 years since 1983. 

In 2015, too, they had an unstoppable run and lost their only match in the semi-final against Australia. He also led India to the finals of the 2013 Champions Trophy, which they won after defeating England in a reduced setup of 20 overs due to rain. 

KL Rahul, on the other hand, has led India in seven overseas Odi matches, of which he lost three against South Africa and won three and one against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, respectively. 

MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul: T20I

Dhoni was among the very first pioneers of cricket who mastered the approach to play in the shortest format of the game. Often considered one of the greatest finishers in white-ball cricket, Dhoni led India by example in the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007, where the most inexperienced India squad, comprised of a full complement of youngsters, lifted the first-ever T20 World Cup under Dhoni. 

Dhoni captained India in 72 matches and emerged victorious in 41 while losing around 28 times. 

KL Rahul captained India in only one international match against Afghanistan, which India won by 101 runs. 

MS Dhoni vs KL Rahul: Indian Premier League

After setting his hands on the T20 World Cup, Mahi was signed by the Chennai Super Kings in the first-ever IPL auction. Since 2008, Dhoni has been often referred to as the Maestro of the League, as under his captaincy, CSK has emerged to qualify for the playoffs 11 times in 13 seasons and has also managed to win 4 titles. 

Even so, he has the highest-ever win percentage in the IPL. All these years with CSK, we saw Dhoni’s rise from being a Ranchi boy to Chennai’s “THALA,” or leader (in Tamil). 

KL Rahul led the Punjab Kings for the first time in 2020, then in 2021, and later the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022. As a skipper, he played 43 matches in these 3 years and won 21 matches. 

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